Gold Label

        I received a birthday gift from Rudy C. this year.  It’s Johnnie Walker Gold Label.  It’s the first time that I heard about this label from JW.  When he told me about the Gold Label, I thought it was the Fundador Gold.  Thanks again, Rudy.

        I knew about the Red, Black, & Blue Labels.  Of the three, I’ve tasted the first two and gotten drunk.  The Blue Label, which is the favorite of a former president, is very expensive.  And, I couldn’t afford it and nobody would give that to me as a gift.

         Curious, I passed by some wine stores to compare the Gold Label with the other labels.  Unfortunately, the wine stores I visited have no Gold Label.  So, I just browsed the internet.

        Aside from the four (4) labels mentioned above, I learned that there’s another one – the Green Label, and another label – the While Label.  The latter had been dropped from the line during World War I.

        The Blue is the most expensive at £159.00; the Gold a far second at £60; then, Green at £43; followed by Black at £22; and Red, the cheapest, at £15.

Wikipedia compared the five labels:

• Johnnie Walker Red Label — a blend of grain whisky and malt whisky (about thirty five are used ), it is the second best selling whisky in the world (only bested by Jameson) and the only Johnnie Walker product marketed with mixing in mind. 80 proof.

• Johnnie Walker Black Label — a blend of as many as 40 whiskies, each aged at least 12 years.

• Johnnie Walker Green Label — a vatted malt whisky that consists of a blend of about 15 individual single malts, the signature malts being Talisker, Cragganmore, Linkwood, and Caol Ila – Aged 15 years. 86 proof. Previously sold under the name 'Pure Malt'.

• Johnnie Walker Gold Label — a rare blend of over 15 single malts, including the very rare Clynelish malt. It was derived from Alexander II's blending notes for a whisky to commemorate Johnnie Walker's centenary. His original efforts were thwarted by a shortage of these malts following World War I. Gold Label is commonly bottled at 18 years, although there are a number of very rare 15 year old bottlings of this variety. 80 proof.

• Johnnie Walker Blue Label — Johnnie Walker's ultimate blend. Every bottle is serial numbered and sold in a silk-lined box, accompanied by a certificate of authenticity. Although no age is declared, it is believed many of the whiskies blended are aged for 50 to 60 years. 86 proof.

        I’m reserving this bottle for a special occasion or with a special friend/s.  Meantime, I’d just drink San Miguel Beer or Tanduay Primiero 8 years old.

        Cheers!!  But, '"DRINK MODERATELY!"

        Tip:  How do you determine if the scotch whisky is real or fake?.   This was taught to me by the PX vendor in Dau, Pampanga.  First, shake the bottle for several seconds until froth is formed.  Then, stop shaking.  If the froth disappeared quickly, the whisky is fake.  But, if it disappeared slowly, the whisky is real.